Believe we develop our beliefs, values and personalities while interacting with the complex social structure that

surrounds us. Family, friends and social institutions. (institutions are organizations and establishments in our society such as places of worship, school, government) Ie) values and beliefs such as: valuable characteristics, desirable jobs, ideas of equality

We must study the society and influences within it in order to understand personality development. is an area of sociology that focuses on social actions and on interrelations of personality, values, and mind with social structure and culture. Some of the major topics in this field are prejudice, leadership and intra-group behaviour, group conflict, impression formation and, socialization

Also seen in anthropology a cross of anthropology and psychology To understand society you must study how it meets needs of members Malinowski, Radcliffe-Brown, Talcott Parsons

Economic power, which is the basis of political power, is key to understanding society. Originally based on ideas of Karl Marx Questions

In whose interests do the institutions of

society work? What are the causes of alienation among members of society?

Bertell Ollman Power is still in the hands of a few as the rest work for their continued success. Focus on Alienation of the common people from the society.

Capitalism has obviously changed a lot in the hundred years since Marx wrote. In the basic relations and structures which distinguish capitalism from feudalism and socialism, however, it has changed very little, and these are the main features of capitalism addressed in Marx's theories. Workers, for example, may earn more money now than they did in the last century, but so do the capitalists. Consequently, the wealth and income gaps between the two classes is as great or greater than ever. The workers' relations to their labor, products and capitalists (which are traced in the theory of alienation and the labor theory of value) are basically unchanged from Marx's day. Probably the greatest difference between our capitalism and Marx's has to do with the more direct involvement of the state in the capitalist economy (primarily to bolster flagging profits) and, as a consequence of this, the expanded role of ideology to disguise the increasingly obvious ties between the agencies of the state and the capitalist class

The human brain intervenes between what we observe and how we act. To understand society, we must understand how the mind works (psychological sociology) Questions Why do individual people act as they do? How do they interpret their own actions and learn from them?

George H. Mead A founding father of social psychology the individual mind can exist only in relation to other minds with shared meanings Focus on the development of a person within the society. You can not develop without the influence of the society around you.

Most societies value systems are sexist and therefore dysfunctional. To change this, social institutions must admit gender issues within them and then solve. Questions

Why have societies historically

undervalued womens work? Can both sexes work to create equality or must women act alone?

Betty Freidan The "Problem That Has No Name" was described by Friedan in the beginning of the book: "The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning [that is, a longing] that women suffered in the middle of the 20th century in the United States. Each suburban [house]wife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question 'Is this all?"

The role of housewife and mother that had been given by society was stifling to many women. Positive role models who didnt fit this stereotype were almost non-existent so an alternative was rarely seen as an option. Why have societies ignored the other contributions women could make to society?

Sociologists must recognize the ethnic diversity within the societies they study and look at the experiences of all group by ignoring the urge to look and judge through the eyes of the majority. ie) white middle-class Questions

What barriers prevent ethnic minorities

from playing as complete role in political and economic life? What policies need to be changed to ensure participation by all?

Peter Li Focuses on Chinese Canadians, immigration and multiculturalism in Canada His studies on the experiences and treatment of immigrants (specifically Chinese) have impacted government policy by shedding light on issues historically overlooked

Describes the honour or prestige attached to ones position in an institution. Position or Rank ie) family, workplace, school Examples:

Historically men were given higher status

in the family The principal of a school has the highest status of staff and the grade 12s of the students

Ranking of Authority or power of the positions within an institution or society. Ie) The Prime Minister is the top of the Canadian Government Hierarchy.

A particular set of behaviours that we must follow to be recognized as an actor. Each of us has many roles and expected behaviours that go with each. Status is often associated with these roles ie) parent, teacher. Example: Student

Sometimes the expectations from our multiple roles are incompatible with one another. Ie) If your boss is your friend...you are suppose to cover for your friends but report and discipline employees.

Beliefs of a group that provide standards for members behaviour. Each Role has values associated with it as good/bad, appropriate/inappropriate, desirable/undesirable Ie) Spouse...